Martin County Burglaries Q&A

Questions posed to law enforcement officials in Martin County during the town hall meeting held in response to recent burglaries throughout the county.

Elizabeth Christensen (right) of Stuart asked if alarms deter the burglars. Snyder said no, but alarms are good things because the burglars arenât as thorough in houses with them. Once an alarm sounds, burglars know they have about four minutes before a deputy arrives, so they wonât stay in the house as long. Plus, if an alarm makes sound outside of a house, neighbors would help by being witnesses.

Leon Gruner (left) of Stuart asked if neighborhood crime watches work. Snyder said yes, and Laura Passanesi (foreground), who runs the community programs for the sheriffâs office, added neighborhoods need to get to know each other. Members of neighborhood crime watches are trained to know what to look for and report, but itâs law enforcementâs job to catch them.

Bob Plotkin (left) of Hobe Sound asked if burglars are allowed to tint the windows of their rental cars as dark as they do. Snyder said the burglars are going to âlegitimateâ tinting shops and paying cash under the table and slapping the dark tint on the windows. In one instance, a detective saw a car with dark tint, followed it and pulled it over when it began speeding.

Frank Dinsmore (center) of Hobe Sound asked if the burglars have found an outlet for their stolen items. Snyder said he couldnât answer that question because of the ongoing investigation, but he did say the burglars have been successful in getting rid of a lot of jewelry.

Jerrie Foster (bottom center) of Hobe Sound asked if thereÕs any place better than the bedroom to hide your valuables. Snyder said he would have said yes months ago, but now burglars are searching beyond bedrooms and going into kitchens and other areas. Although a safe bolted to the floor would help, Snyder said the best place to keep valuables if a safety deposit box. HeÕs hesitant to tell people to hide stuff at any specific location in their houses.

Bobbi Demers (bottom right) of Hobe Sound asked how to let burglars know residents are home. Snyder said leaving a garage door open would invite a different type of crime, so itâs better to let the burglars knock and then tell them no. Snyder said people have tricks to make their houses looks busy, but the burglars have incredible instincts because itâs what they do for a living.

Alice Turynowicz (right) of Stuart asked what the sheriffâs office is doing differently now in response to the burglaries. Snyder said the entire agency is putting all its resources toward the burglaries, but other crimes still are going on. Traffic units are out looking for burglars, and neighborhoods are on alert.

Martin County Sheriff William Snyder (left) told residents what to do if they are home alone and get a knock on the door. If residents tell them theyâre home, the burglars likely will leave, he said. Although society has trained kids not to answer the door, he said that doesnât work anymore. Snyder advised working out a script with kids so theyâre ready with a response such as their dad being in the shower or taking a nap. If kids donât say anything, burglars could break in the house.

Martin County residents listen as sheriff William Snyder speaks to them about the recent burglaries throughout the county during a public meeting at The Pine School on Tuesday evening.

Martin County Sheriff William Snyder displays a glass punch, also known as a window punch, which some burglars have used to break into homes around the county.

Sergeant Dan Foote of the Martin County Sheriff's Office displays a crime scene photo from a recent burglary in the county during a meeting with local residents Tuesday evening at the Pine School. In the past 2 years, there have been at least 108 burglaries investigated by the sheriff's office.

Sergeant Dan Foote of the Martin County Sheriff's Office displays a crime scene photo from a recent burglary in the county during a meeting with local residents Tuesday evening at the Pine School. In the past 2 years, there have been at least 108 burglaries investigated by the sheriff's office.

Martin County sheriff William Snyder (back left) speaks to local residents about the recent burglaries throughout the county during a public meeting at The Pine School on Tuesday evening.